Ring system including a removable outer ring

ABSTRACT

A ring system may include a band; a stationary arm coupled to the band, the stationary am including a first annular end; and a pivotable arm pivotably coupled to the band, the pivotable arm including a second annular end, the pivtotable arm being transitionable between an open position and a closed position relative to the stationary arm, wherein the first and second annular ends form an annulus when the pivotable arm is in the closed position, the annulus being configured to releasably secure a portion of a tiffany setting ring therein.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The present disclosure generally to jewelry, and more particularly to a ring system that includes a ring that is configured to be detachably coupled to another ring.

Description of the Related Art

A ring is a round band, which is usually fabricated from metal, and that is worn as ornamental jewelry. Rings are commonly worn to celebrate or commemorate various occasions, such as, for example, an engagement or a marriage. Traditionally, n engagement ring is a ring worn by a person to indicate that she is engaged to be married.

One popular setting for an engagement ring is known as a Tiffany setting. The Tiffany setting includes a set of prongs that hold a gemstone and attach it to a plain band ring. Usually, the gemstone, typically a diamond, is the only stone on the band. Due to their rarity, large stones are typically more expensive than many stones that equal the same carat weight. Consequently, some engagement bands include a larger diamond set in the middle and smaller diamonds on the side. Conventionally, unless the band or the stones are changed, there is no way to change the total number of carats of the gemstones used once the ring is made.

There is a continuing need to provide a cost effective solution to upgrading an engagement ring.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, a ring system may include a band, a stationary arm coupled to the band, the stationary arm including a first annular end, and a pivotable arm including a second annular end. The pivotable arm may be pivotably coupled to the band (e.g., via hinge extending from the band), and may be transitionable between an open position and a closed position relative to the stationary arm. The first and second annular ends may form an annulus when the pivotable arm is in the closed position, and the annulus being configured to releasably secure a portion of a tiffany setting ring therein. A plurality of side stones coupled to at least one of the pivotable arm and the stationary arm. The pivotable arm may include a protrusion and the band includes a groove that is configured to releasably receive the protrusion. The pivotable arm may be magnetically coupled to at least one of the band and the stationary arm.

When the ring system is coupled to a ring having a tiffany setting, the annular ends of the arm members may prevent decoupling of the ring system from the ring and may create a visual impression of a single ring.

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate the same elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ring system including a stationary arm and a pivotable arm in accordance with the present disclosure shown in a first condition;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the ring system of FIG. 1 shown in a second condition;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the pivotable arm of the ring system as shown in FIG. 2; and

FIGS. 4-6 illustrate coupling a tiffany-setting ring to the ring system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the invention. Wherever possible, same or similar reference numerals are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts or steps. The drawings are in simplified form and are not to precise scale. The word ‘couple’ and similar terms do not necessarily denote direct and immediate connections, but also include connections through intermediate elements or devices. For purposes of convenience and clarity only, directional (up/down, etc.) or motional (forward/back, etc.) terms may be used with respect to the drawings. These and similar directional terms should not be construed to limit the scope in any manner. It will also be understood that other embodiments may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention, and that the detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and that elements may be differently positioned, or otherwise noted as in the appended claims without requirements of the written description being required thereto.

Referring to FIGS. 1-6, a ring system 100 includes a band 102 that is coupled to a fixed arm 104 a and a pivotable arm 104 b. The fixed arm 104 a may be fixedly secured to the band 102 such that it is in a fixed positioned relative to an upper surface of the band 102. The pivotable arm 104 b may be pivotably secured to the band 102 via a hinge element 105 that extends outwardly from an upper surface of the band 102. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the pivotable arm 104 b may be secured within the hinge element 105 and a pin P may pivotably secure the pivotable arm 104 b to the hinge element 105. Each of the anus 104 a, 104 b may include ends 106 a, 106, respectively, that form a generally annular shape in which a gemstone S (FIG. 4) of a ring R (FIG. 4) may be positioned. The arms 104 a, 104 b may include side stones G that accentuate the aesthetic appeal of the ring system 100 when the ring R is coupled thereto. For example, side stones G may be coupled to the ends 106 a, 106 of respective ones of the arms 106 a, 106 b to provide an optical impression that the gemstone S of the ring R is of a greater carat size.

The pivotable arm 104 b is pivtotable in a direction along and against that indicated by arrow X. When then pivotable arm 104 b is rotated about pivot point p in the direction indicated by arrow X, the ring system 100 is transitioned to an unlocked condition in which a ring R may be coupled to the ring system 100. In particular, with the arm 104 b in an unlocked, upright position as shown in FIG. 4, the ring R may be placed under the stationary arm 104 a with the annular end 106 a of the arm member 104 a placed partially around the stone S of the ring $. Thereafter, the pivotable arm 104 b may be pivoted in a direction against the arrow X to lock the annular ends 106 a, 106 b of respective arm members 104 a, 104 b around the stone S of the ring R, thereby locking the ring system 100 to the ring R, as shown in FIG. 6. The stone S may have a generally tapered shape with the narrower end of the stone S closer to the surface of the ring R such that when the arm members 104 a, 104 b are in a closed condition, the interaction of the wider end of the stone S and the annular opening defined by the ends 106 a, 106 b of the arm members 104 a, 104 b prevent disengagement of the ring R from the ring system 100.

When in the locked condition, the arm members 104 a, 104 b may lie relatively flush against an outer surface of at least one of the band 102 and the ring R. A portion of the arm members 104 a, 104 b may be configured to overlay the ring R when in the locked condition, thereby providing a visual impression of a single ring. The band 102 and the ring R may be positioned flush and adjacent one another.

The pivotable arm 104 b may be releasably lockable to the band via a locking mechanism that may include, for example, a finger or protrusion 107 a that extends from the arm member 104 b that is configured to engage a groove 107 b that may be formed in a surface of the band 102 in an interference or friction fit. Additionally, or alternatively, the pivotable arm 104 b may magnetically couple to at least one of the band 102 or the stationary arm 104 a.

GLOSSARY OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

100: Ring system

102: Band

104 a: Fixed arm

104 b: Pivotable arm

105: Hinge

105 a: First hinge connector

105 b: Second hinge connector

106 a: First arm end

106 b: Second arm end

107 a: Finger or protrusion on the pivotable arm 104 b

107 b: Groove on the band 102 that receives the finger 107 a

G: Side stone(s) on the fixed arm 104 a and/or the pivotable arm 104 b

R: Ring

S: Center Gemstone of the ring R

Various operations may be described as multiple discrete operations in turn, in a manner that may be helpful in understanding embodiments of the present invention. However, the order of description should not be construed to imply that these operations are order dependent.

Those of skill in the art will additionally recognize that the proposed invention may be used as a neck/chest strap or single shoulder strap by adjustably supporting and connecting only two opposed sides of the support system (between the collar and one arm opening). In this manner, the adjustable feature is still operative, but the user has enhanced options for convenience and securement.

Having described at least one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, it will be apparent to those skills that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various modifications and variations can be made in the presently disclosed system without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present disclosure cover modifications and variations of this disclosure provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A ring system, comprising: a band; a stationary arm coupled to the band, the stationary am including a first annular end; and a pivotable arm pivotably coupled to the band, the pivotable arm including a second annular end, the pivtotable arm being transitionable between an open position and a closed position relative to the stationary arm, wherein the first and second annular ends form an annulus when the pivotable arm is in the closed position, the annulus being configured to releasably secure a portion of a tiffany setting ring therein.
 2. The ring system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of side stones coupled to at least one of the pivotable arm and the stationary arm.
 3. The ring system of claim 1, wherein the pivotable arm includes a protrusion and the band includes a groove that is configured to releasably receive the protrusion.
 4. The ring system of claim 1, wherein the pivotable arm is magnetically coupled to at least one of the band and the stationary arm.
 5. The ring system of claim 1, wherein the pivotable arm is pivotably connected to the band via a hinge that extends from the band. 